Revisions to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR): Control of Spacecraft Systems and Related Items the President Determines No Longer Warrant Control Under the United States Munitions List (USML)

This interim final rule adds controls to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) for spacecraft and related items that the President has determined no longer warrant control under United States Munitions List (USML) Category XV--spacecraft and related items. New Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) 9A515, 9B515, 9D515, and 9E515 created by this rule and existing ECCNs on the Commerce Control List (CCL) will control such items. This rule also revises various sections of the EAR to provide the proper level of control for the new ECCNs. This rule is being published in conjunction with the publication of a Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls rule revising USML Category XV to control those articles the President has determined warrant control on the USML. Both rules are part of the President's Export Control Reform Initiative. The revisions in this final rule are also part of Commerce's retrospective regulatory review plan under Executive Order (EO) 13563 (see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for availability of the plan). This rule is being published as an interim final rule because the Departments of Commerce and State acknowledge that additional internal analysis of and industry input regarding the control threshold for various aspects of the amendments is warranted, particularly with respect to civil and commercial remote sensing satellites and civil and commercial space flight-related items. The Departments did not want to wait until this review is done to publish this rule in final form because of the substantial national and economic security benefits that will flow from the various amendments to the controls on satellites and related items.